Associate Director, Education and Digital Innovation

Associate Director, Education and Digital Innovation

Intentional Futures - Seattle, Washington - Full time

Company Overview

Intentional Futures (iF) is an idea-to-impact consultancy. We work with visionary leaders to solve hard problems that matter. Our clients are change agents who believe the world can be a better place, and we act as trusted guides and thought partners on their journeys.

We are a 30 person firm of researchers, strategists, and designers that work on complex issues with corporations, nonprofits, and family foundations. We are looking for a self-motivated and skilled Associate Director to join our team!

iF celebrates a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that having staff with diverse backgrounds allows us to better serve our clients, support one another, and fulfill our mission.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Education (AD) provides innovative direction and project and client management for large, multifaceted projects in the education sector. They are able to effortlessly lead projects within a broad range of topic areas – often at the intersection of education, technological innovation, and business – driving strategic development or providing thoughtful guidance as the project lead and manager. The AD is a critical part of the Education team at Intentional Futures, reporting to one of two directors on the team under the Principal of the Education practice. Though the AD does not act as a people manager, they will at times act as a trusted coach, advisor, and mentor to support team members in growing their craft.

The AD is able to draw from their experiences to surface novel insights, simplify complicated ideas into clear frameworks, and design innovative solutions which elicit “a-has” from our clients. They can confidently apply a human- and equity-centered design approach to create strategies and solutions that drive impact for Pre-K through Postsecondary educational organizations including curriculum and EdTech developers, family foundations, universities, non-profits, and beyond; and in other education-adjacent ecosystems. They have a specific interest in projects that make a difference, such as: creating a strategy for a philanthropy to invest in more equitable K-12 learning tools; mitigating bias in tech development for a school-facing non-profit; or co-designing experiences to support more learner-centered public high schools.

We prioritize leadership and professional growth by investing in your success. Our commitment includes providing both financial resources and dedicated time for all employees to pursue professional development opportunities. iF actively provides mentorship opportunities and a focus on equity-centered leadership for all employees. Our DEI workgroups focus on improving internal dynamics and strengthening relationships with our clients and community.

Who you are

You are passionate about educational equity and its intersection with technology. You have deep knowledge of (or the desire and the research ability) to quickly become a subject matter expert of EdTech and technological solutions and trends. You proactively develop new professional relationships, and are a skilled and compelling facilitator. You may be someone who played a meaningful role in launching and shipping an educational technology product or service, or have experience in working with education stakeholders (students, faculty, teachers, administrators) in leveraging innovative solutions and technologies. You thrive in a mostly remote and highly collaborative environment.

Responsibilities and Duties

Project leadership and management

• Project manage multiple, sometimes ambiguous, client-facing projects with varying levels of complexity to develop equitable and impactful deliverables
• Lead collaborative, multidisciplinary project teams that include strategists, visual/graphic/UX designers, and technologists through scoping, budgeting, research, and delivery
• Facilitate teams to develop research plans, explain complex ideas, craft a point of view, and share key findings with others in a clear, digestible way (e.g., via frameworks, interactive presentations, tech reports, etc.)
• Investigate and distill large volumes of information on a given topic (e.g., “AI in Education” or “Data Privacy and Security”) into key insights and/or concise frameworks
• Manage time across multiple demanding priorities (client projects and internal efforts), including navigating pivots or ambiguity while staying within a project scope or budget

Client management and business development

• Manage key client relationships, ensuring healthy and open communication that results in strong collaboration, ideas to improve our practice, and ongoing opportunities for partnership
• Support EDU Principal and Directors in business development activities that include relationship management and co-crafting innovative, successful proposals
• Provide constructive feedback to clients and team members, advocating for the project team if needed
• Write or speak about important, relevant topics, as appropriate

People Mentorship and Development

• Provide mentorship, coaching, and training to our EDU team members around facilitating discussions, client management, framework and strategy development, and equity-centered approaches
• Refine and improve our EDU methodologies, tools, and creative engagement

Core Qualifications and Skills

iFsters are generalists and roles here require a breadth of skill. Most iFsters come with many listed qualifications and then quickly learn – and excel – at the others during their time here. Candidates who meet most, but not all, qualifications are still encouraged to apply.

• 7+ years of experience (or equivalent combination of education and work) in business/EdTech markets, or in education as a technology or implementation lead, including project management, strategy, or consulting experience
• An interest in EdTech trends and their intersections with other domains such as climate, culture, and people. Interest or experience in analyzing the impact of emerging technologies, such as AI or IoT, on educational experiences and outcomes
• Expert facilitation skills and an ability to guide groups and teams through dynamic conversations
• Business strategy experience (and/or interest in upskilling) in one or more of the following categories:
  • Market research/ analysis, business model analysis, understanding of business/ strategy terms, and basic frameworks
• A strong commitment to fostering equitable environments that respect, value, and celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences
• Experience translating complex information into clear and compelling strategic narratives that can be understood easily by multiple audiences
• Strong desk research skills and familiarity or ability to quickly learn qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
• Goal-oriented, independent: someone who can manage multiple work streams, set and meet their own deadlines, budgets, and milestones (and help others track theirs!)
• Familiarity with standard office tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Workspace) and willingness to master new tools with support (AirTable, Parallax, Hubspot)
• Interest in making an impact in education required

Bonus Experience & Skills

• Additional education or relevant experience in, or applicable to, the field including non-traditional experiences or higher ed degrees
• A solid understanding of, or experience with, equity-centered design and how it applies to strategy

As an equal opportunity employer, iF considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class. People of color, women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals are encouraged to apply.

Recruiting Process Expectations

Our phases for recruitment include applicant vetting, phone screens for identified candidates, followed by 1-2 interview loops for finalists. We may also ask candidates to complete a brief time-based task (for example, writing, an exercise around data analysis, etc.) as what it intended to be a low-stakes insight into your strategic approach. This should take no longer than 60 minutes to complete. More details will be shared at the right time.

Salary, Benefits, & Additional Information

At Intentional Futures, we conduct iterative and extensive market research to learn what is considered a competitive salary for each of our roles. However, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. With this context in mind, the salary range for this role is $95,000 to $120,000 annually as well as potential for an annual bonus based on performance.

Along with this, iF offers a benefits package that includes:

• Healthcare coverage including domestic partner benefits
• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Account options
• Life insurance
• Short-term disability coverage
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• 4% 401K match
• Paid time off
• Learning and Development Resources

Most of our staff work from home full-time, with the option to work from our office in Seattle. The ability to commute to our Seattle-based office is preferred and we are not able to offer relocation packages. The preferred candidate will be someone who lives in the greater Seattle area or is willing to relocate.

iF cannot offer work visa sponsorship at this time.

We will notify every candidate about next steps, you can expect a response 2-4 weeks from the posting date of the role, pending applicant pool. Preferred candidates will be moved forward to phone screens.

iF Values

• Imagination - We openly seek and explore novel perspectives, ideas, and approaches.
• Excellence - We passionately pursue solutions that thoughtfully address the real issues.
• Teamwork - We collaboratively activate the combined strengths of clients, partners, and each other.

If you love the endless pursuit of the unknown, apply!